TNAG-0934-FCO40-1153-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-Soviet-Union-1980 — Page 7

GRS 180

CONFIDENTIAL

FM CANBERRA 110270Z FER

AKK020/3

53

CONFIDENTIAL

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 109 OF 11 FEBRUARY

INFO SUVA VILA

HONIARA NUKU'ALOFA TARAWA

WELLINGTON PORT MORESBY.

PORT MORESBY TELNO 15: SOVIET INTERVENTION IN AFGHANISTAN:

AUSTRALIAN TRADE SANCTIONS

1. AS PART OF THEIR ECONOMIC ACTION AGAINST THE USSR,

THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT WILL ANNOUNCE SHORTLY THAT

SOVIET TOURIST VESSELS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO USE

AUSTRALIAN FACILITIES IN PREPARING FOR PACIFIC CRUISES

W.E.F. MAY 1930. THIS WILL MEAN THE ABANDONMENT OF THESE

CRUISES, SINCE SHIPS HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE PORTS FROM

WHICH TO OPERATE.

2. THE DECISION WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE ECONOMIES

OF SOME PACIFIC ISLANDS, FOR WHOM THE CRUISES ARE A USEFUL

SOURCE OF REVENUE. BUT THE AUSTRALIANS POINT OUT THAT CRUISES WOULD HAVE FALLEN OFF FROM MAY (END OF SEASON) ANYWAY, AND OTHER LINES (EG LLOYD TRIESTINO) COULD BE

EXPECTED TO TAKE OVER.

3.

THE RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT OF AN INCREASE IN AUSTRALIAN

AID TO THE REGION SHOULD GO SOME WAY TO MOLLIFY S. PACIFIC

GO ERNMENTS.

TEBBIT

[COPIES SENT TO NO 10 DOWNING ST]

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

SAD

WED

EESD

TRED

NAM D

SEAD

MED

UNID

NENAD

FRD

FED

ECD (E)

SED

CABINET OFFICE

ADDITIONAL DISTN.

AFGHANISTAN

Repetition to VILA NUKU'ALOFA HONIARA & TARAWA'

referred for departmental decision,

repeated as requested to other posts.

CONFIDENTIAL